» New Pak govt's stance may pose difficulties for US' war on terror mission: Stratfor

New Pak govt's stance may pose difficulties for US' war on terror mission: Stratfor

Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2008, 12:05 [IST]

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Washington, Mar 26 : The emergence of civilian rule in Pakistan and the initial indications from the new government might pose difficulties for the US, as far as Pakistan's support in US-led war on international terror is concerned, the US intelligence service Stratfor has said.

It said that the political forces could be expected to drive a hard bargain with Washington on the parameters of counter-terrorism co-operation, because these forces cannot afford to dismiss national sentiment in policymaking, and public resentment toward US policy regarding the war against militant Islamists is at an all-time high.

It also said that the Gillani government would likely try to work out a new counter-terrorism arrangement with Washington, whereby unilateral action by the latter would have to be replaced with more co-ordinated operations.

About the freeing of deposed CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry yesterday, it said that the decision underscores how the democratisation of authoritarian states can complicate key US objectives.

"This incident is quite telling of what to expect from Islamabad under the new government in terms of its need to placate domestic concerns on national issues -- especially the country's counter-terrorism co-operation with the United States, which has faced severe criticism from almost all quarters. The coming changes in the nature of US-Pakistani co-ordination in the war against militant Islamists," the Daily Times quoted Stratfor as saying in the commentary.

It also said that Washington, which has extensive experience in dealing with civil-military states, in turn, will try to exploit differences among the various stakeholders in the new Pakistani regime to secure its goals. ... What is certain is that Pakistan is heading into uncharted territory with its emerging civilian government."